Established ant colony

Bananaslug · #1 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 04:19 AM

I introduced a fairly large colony of some odiferous ants into my viv several months ago, and it has been sustaining itself well. Really seems to supliment the frogs diet pretty good. I'm just curious if anyone else has done this?

JimO · #2 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 04:24 AM

I'd be careful not to handle the frogs. Scientists are still uncertain where poison frogs get their toxins, but they know it's from their diet. Those fed ffs and other common foods are not toxic, but ants are one of the insects suspected of contributing to the toxins accumulated by the frogs. Of course, it's the native tropical ants and other insects that carry the toxins, so your ants might be find, but I'd still be careful. If the ant smell, then they probably have formic acid or some other noxious chemical to defend themselves with.

billschwinn · #3 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 05:04 AM

Can you show a pic of these ants? Also where did you get them from and did you get a queen? Bill

Bananaslug · #4 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 05:09 AM

Hadn't planned on handling the frogs, just curious if anyone else has had luck with it. It would be interesting to know what gives the ants their smell...

fleshfrombone · #5 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 06:24 AM

A friend of mine has experience with this although inadvertently. Sugar ants wandered into his tanks.

frogparty · #6 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 06:54 AM

but sadly the nest they made in the coffee pot was deserted when i finally got it open. just eggs left.

the frogs do love those ants.

fleshfrombone · #7 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 07:15 AM

Awww thats lame. You should take pics of your other colony.... That was insane!

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogparty

but sadly the nest they made in the coffee pot was deserted when i finally got it open. just eggs left.

the frogs do love those ants.

Bananaslug · #8 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 03:28 PM

Bill, I used a plastic coffee container and just placed damp cardboard inside along with some honey. I cut a small opening in the lid and places it on it's side near a large colony ouside. After a few weeks it was full of ants and thier eggs. Just shook all the cardboard out into the viv and so far, so good. This was back in may.

Bananaslug · #9 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 05:03 PM

Bill, I used a plastic coffee container and just placed damp cardboard inside along with some honey. I cut a small opening in the lid and places it on it's side near a large colony ouside. After a few weeks it was full of ants and thier eggs. Just shook all the cardboard out into the viv and so far, so good. This was back in may.

rcteem · #10 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 05:12 PM

Can you post pictures of them in your viv?